Abstract

Purpose: In the past decade, Scholars, think tanks, and policymakers have had rich discussions about omnichannel distribution science. However, despite the growing body of research in this area, there is currently no universally accepted definition of what exactly an "omnichannel consumer" consists of and what the most relevant drivers are. This study aims to synthesize the empirical evidence surrounding omni-channel consumer research and its management. Additionally, we demonstrate how omnichannel consumer research has emerged from different theoretical perspectives and disciplines. Research design, data and methodology: Using the Systematic Literature Review method and searching the CNKI, Web of Science, and Scopus databases for 130 articles, the study analyzed the current state of omnichannel consumer research and categorized and summarized the findings in the literature. Results: This study analyzes the current state of omnichannel consumer research and categorizes the findings in the literature and identifies four research areas: consumer behavior, consumer experience, consumer sentiment dimensions, and consumer segmentation. Conclusions: This literature review offers the first comprehensive and systematic overview of "Chinese omnichannel consumers." It not only highlights the most critical research trends discussed in existing studies, but also outlines the expected direction of future research, which provides the basis for understanding omnichannel consumer research.